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动向 (dòng xiàng) — trend, tendency

Definition

动向 emphasizes the direction of an ongoing change, often in social, political, or market contexts. Close to 趋势, but 动向 highlights observable movements and shifts, while 趋势 stresses the overall tendency.

noun
trendtendency

Examples

  • 动向。
    Wǒ men xū yào fēn xī shì chǎng dòng xiàng.
    We need to analyze market trends.
  • 动向。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī mì qiè guān zhù háng yè dòng xiàng.
    This company closely follows industry trends.
  • 动向。
    Shè huì dòng xiàng de biàn huà huì yǐng xiǎng zhèng cè zhì dìng.
    Changes in social trends can influence policy-making.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

动dòngmovement
向xiàngdirection

动 (movement) and 向 (direction) give the direction in which things move, i.e. trend.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

向 originally drew 宀 (house) with 口 to show an echo in a place; later it was used for direction.

Open 向 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

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